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Literary festivals across Kent 2016: where to get your literary fix from Folkestone to Cranbrook and Whitstable

APPLEDORE BOOK FESTIVAL, NEAR ASHFORD

Founded by the author of Horrible Science, Nick Arnold, this year's event will be the 10th.

There is a schools outreach programme, and will be visits from famous authors, slam poets and songrwiters, plus events and workshops. The programme will be annonced in July and this year's event will be held from Friday, September 23 to Sunday, October 2. For details go here.

Author Louis de Bernieres switched on the Christmas lights at last year's Folkestone Book Festival
Author Louis de Bernieres switched on the Christmas lights at last year's Folkestone Book Festival

CRANBROOK LITERATURE FESTIVAL

A celebration of books, reading and writing, the festival takes place on Friday, September 30 until Saturday, October 1. There will be author talks, lectures, writing workshops, storytime and competitions, as well as performance poetry over the two days. For details go here.

Folkestone's Creative Quarter is brought alive by the annual book festival
Folkestone's Creative Quarter is brought alive by the annual book festival

FOLKESTONE BOOK FESTIVAL

Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and Captain Corelli's Mandolin author Louis de Bernieres were among the celebrity guests at the annual festival, which is a major date in Kent's literary calendar.

Folkestone Quarterhouse opens up its doors once again for this year's event, which will be held from Friday, November 18 to Sunday, November 27.

This year’s festival will give visitors the chance to dive into a diverse programme of talks, readings, creative writing workshops, performances and film. The full programme will be announced in July. For details click here.

MARGATE BOOKIE LITFEST

The festival is set to double in size for its second year, which will be on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. Highlights include Emmy-winning comedy writer David Quantick, former chair of RoyalLiterary Society Maggie Gee and Margate-born poet Salena Godden, with events being held at venues across Margate from the Sands Hotel to Turner Contemporary, Bernie’s Chocolate Bar and Resort Studios.

For details of all events and speakers, visit margatebookie.com

Salena Godden
Salena Godden

ROCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL

The fourth festival, Written Worlds, Inspiring Places will run from Saturday, October 1 to Sunday, October 9.

Organisers aim to bring writers, performers, musicians, directors and filmmakers - anyone whose work has creative writing at its heart - together. For more details on this year, click here.

Best selling author Kate Mosse came to Sevenoaks Literary Celebration last year
Best selling author Kate Mosse came to Sevenoaks Literary Celebration last year

SEVENOAKS LITERARY FESTIVAL

It may be small but it attracted some huge literary names last year, including Kate Mosse and Helen Lederer, with events selling out early. Run by a committee of volunteers, it has been renamed from a literary celebration for this year and will be held from Friday, September 23 to Saturday, October 8. There will be some Shakespearean events; a literary lunch with Sophie Hannah and a return visit from Juliet Nicolson, talking about her family. A full programme will be released soon. For details click here.

WEALDEN LITERARY FESTIVAL, WOODCHURCH

The first of its kind will be a two-day event celebrating landscape and nature on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19.

It will take place in the renowned gardens and woodland at Boldshaves in Woodchurch and is the brainchild of outdoor and sustainable environment enthusiasts Laura and Andrew Willan, of Tenterden.

Laura said: “It will be an inspiring and fun festival for all ages, with talks by acclaimed writers and speakers, alongside hands-on outdoor activities exploring the natural world – including wildlife safaris and nature trails."

Art, specialist craft stalls, and artisan food stalls will also be part of the fun. With free entry for under-14s, there will be free children’s activities; a workshop with Matthew Appleby, author of The Children’s Garden, and a chance to learn bushcraft skills with family-adventure specialists the Meek Family. For details and to book, click here.

Performance is part of literary festivals
Performance is part of literary festivals
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